Grease dispenser



Aug. 6, 1946.

F. WILKES GREASE DI S PENS ER Filed Oct. 19, 1943 INVENTOR. FEEDER/C (l /i1. Kss.

N m r r a w h Patented Aug. 6, 1946 v UNITED STATES- My invention relates more particularly to dispensing devices of the reservoir type that are particularly suitable for filling grease guns such as those employed in the lubrication of automobiles and other machinery, but it will be understood that the apparatus can be employed also in dispensing other materials of a semi-liquid nature.

One object of my invention is to provide dispensing reservoirs that can be placed at locations which are convenient to where the lubricating service men are working, and which can be operated conveniently and quickly, to fill grease guns.

Another object of'my invention is to provide a pressure-operated dispensing device that can be used more easily and with less waste than various other types of filling or dispensing devices that have heretofore been employed.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a side view, partly in section, of a dispensing apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the pressure control valve of Fig. l, in position to cut oif the supply of motive fluid to the grease chamber; 12 Fig. 3 shows a valve in position to admit the motive fluid to the grease chamber, when filling a gun, and Fig. 4 shows a modification of the'strueture of Fig. 1.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the grease chamber or reservoir is indicated by the numeral 5. This chamber has a hinged lid or cover 6 that is releasably held in air-tight closed position by nut I and eye bolts 8. The chamber has a dis- 5 Claims. (01. 226 425) 5 upon the nozzle 9. Thereupon, the valve l5 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby causing grease to be extruded from the nozzle 9 into the grease gun. As the gun barrel becomes filled it'will be permitted to move downwardly 10 along the nozzle 9 and when it reaches the lower end of the nozzle the valve I5 will be released and turned by it spring 22 to the position shown in Fig. 2. At that position the port It! will effect connection between the pipe 16 and an exhaust port 2|, thereby permitting exhaust of pressure from the upper side of the piston 13, to stop further flow of the grease, the cap ll being returned to its full line position to prevent dripping of grease.

When refilling of the chamber 5 is required the lid 6 is raised and the operator will grasp a handle 23 on the upper side of the piston to lift it from the chamber, whereupon a new supply of grease can be introduced.

In Fig. 4 I show a dispensing device similar to that of Fig. 1 but of uch construction that the pressure-controlled valve is automatically operated, and means are provided for admitting fiuid pressure to the underside of the piston When it is to be raised for refilling of the chamber 5. In

this arrangement, pressure is admitted to and exhausted from the upper portion of the chamber by the valve l5, as in the case of Fig. 1. However, the valve is so positioned that its handle i3 will be charge nOZZle or spout 9 that will suitably be apengaged by the grease gun it when placing the proximately of the length of the longest, grease gun barrels I0 that are to be filled. A cap ii is supported by pivotally-hung spring arms l2, from the lower end of the chamber 5, to prevent grease moving out of the nozzle when a grease gun is not the ValVB Spring 22 under tensionin place for filling, the spring arms I2 serving to hold the bottom of the cap snugly against the end of the nozzle.

A piston 13 is positioned in the chamber, for

gun barrel over the spout and the valve handle l8 thereby turned from its dotted line position of Fig. 4 to its full line position to eli'ect a flow of grease into the gun. This movement places While the valve will be opened immediately upon the entrance of the gun upon the spout, the gun can he slid quickly upward so that it will be in it uppermost position on the spout When sufficient presmovement toward the nozzle 9 in order to extrude Sure has e n built p a ve th p n to start grease from the chamber. Air pressure for moving the piston down is supplied from a suitable source through a pressure line l4, past a valve I5, through a pipe I6, and through a flexible pipe the feeding of grease. It is desirable to have the nozzle 9 extending to approximately the lower end of the grease gun, barrel at the beginning of a filling operation, so as to avoid entrapment of H, the pipe I] communicating thr u h th li 6 air below the grease that is introduced into the with the interior of the chamber. When the valve handle I8 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the valve port l9 provides communication between the pipes l4 and IE to admit fluid pressure to the upper side of the piston.

barrel.

Upon removal of the grease gun fom the nozzle it will become disengaged from the handle it, permitting the valve to be moved by its spring .22 to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus automatically eflecting cut ofi of fluid pressure from the line l4 and exhaust of fluid pressure from the upper side of the piston.

When it becomes necessary to refill the chamber 5, air pressure will be admitted from a pipe 23 into the lower portion of the chamber and against the under side of the piston. The piston will thereby be raised to the under side of the cover, to permit opening of the cover and refilling of the reservoir. The piston has an upstanding boss or arm 25 that extends through a guide sleeve 26 that is formed on the upper side of the cover. The member 25 and 26 serve as a guide or prevent tilting of the piston, particularly when it is being raised by fluid pressure.

I claim asmy invention: p V

1. A dispensing device for grease and the like, comprising a chamber having a discharge nozzle of a length not substantially less than the length of a grease gun barrel to be placed over the nozzle for filling, a piston in the chamber, means for supplying fluid pressure to the rear side of the piston, to move it toward'the nozzle and thereby effect discharge of grease from the chamber, a valve controlling the supplyof fluid pressure, means operable to open the valve through the sliding of a grease gun barrel into position'over the nozzle, and means for automatically closing the valve upon removal of said barrel from the nozzle.

2. A dispensing device for grease andthe like, comprising a chamber having a discharge nozzle of a length not substantially less than the length of a grease gun barrel to be placed over the nozzle for filling, a piston in the chamber, means for supplying fluid pressure to the rear side of the piston, to move it toward the nozzle and thereby effect discharge of grease" from the'cha nber, a valve controlling the supply of fluid pressure,

means operable to open the valve through the rel from the nozzle.

3. A dispensing device for-grease and the like, comprising a chamber having a discharge nozzle at one end, means for supplying fluid pressure into the other end of the chamber, to thereby force grease through the nozzle, the nozzle being of such diameter and length that it will enter a grease gun barrel and will extend substantially the full length of a grease gun barrel that is slid into position over the same, a valve for controlling the admission of fluid presspre to the chamber, and an operating member for the valve located adjacent to the discharge end of the nozzle in position to be engaged by a grease gun barrel as the barrel approaches grease-receiving position, whereby the valve is opened to admit fluid pressure to the chamber, and means automatically returning the valve to closed position when the barrel is being removed from the nozzle.

4. A dispensing device for grease and the like, comprising a chamber having a discharge orifice in its lower end, a piston in an upper portion of the chamber, a cover hinged to the upper end ofthe chamber, a flexible pipe extending through the cover adjacent to its hinge connection and admitting fluid pressure to the upper side of the piston, a fluid supply line for the pipe, extending past a. point that is in proximity to the said nozzle, and a valve at said point, for controlling the flow of fluid pressure through the said line, the flexible pipe serving to allow opening and closing of the cover without disconnection from the source of fluid supply.

5. A dispensing device for grease andthe like,

comprising a chamber having a discharge orifice in its lower end, a piston in an upper portion of the chamber, a cover hinged to the upper end of the chamber, a flexible pipe extending through the cover adjacent to its hinge connection and admitting fluid pressure to the upper side of the piston, a fluid supply line for the ppie, extending past a point that is in proximity to the said nozzle, a valve at said point, for controllingthe flow of fluid pressure through the said line, a second pipe leading from said line into the lower end of the chamber to admit fluid pressure for raising the piston, and a valve for controlling flow through said second pipe, the flexible pipe serving to allow opening and closing of the cover without disconnection from the source of fluid 

